Set out on an Oceanwide Expeditions Antarctica cruise and experience the outermost edge of human exploration. Oceanwide’s Antarctic cruises immerse you fully in the incomparable terrain of Antarctica, introducing you to a diverse host of animals while also engaging you in exhilarating expedition cruise activities like kayaking, hiking, mountaineering, scuba diving, and even camping. Your Antarctic expedition cruise will thoroughly acquaint you with Antarctica’s wondrous ice wildernesses, bringing out your inner explorer as you tour colossal glacier fronts, dazzling berg-filled bays, and shorelines surrounded by towering, snow-swept mountains.Also available during Antarctic cruises aboard our new vessel, Hondius, are special science-based activities that delve into the incredible Antarctic ecosystem.
For countless people over several centuries, Antarctica represents many things…
Antarctica is the ice-packed secrets of the Ross or Weddell Seas. It is the snowy southern islands as well as the lush, bird-filled flora of the sub-Antarctic. And Antarctica is the snowy peaks, vast penguin colonies, and whale-abundant waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. Antarctica means seabirds, whales, and near-limitless other animals. But whatever else Antarctica is, it is without doubt an incomparable cruise adventure.
Join Oceanwide on an Antarctic expedition cruise, and experience exploration in its native environment.
Cruises to Antarctica
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
Meet at least six penguin species!
HDS21-23 A cruise to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia & the Antarctic Peninsula. Visit some of the most beautiful arrays of wildlife on Earth. This journey will introduce you to at least 6 species of penguin and a whole lot of Antarctic fur seals!
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
24 Oct - 13 Nov, 2023
Price:
13350 USD
South Georgia Explorer
Experience the best of South Georgia
PLA22-23 Few places compare to South Georgia in terms of exotic wildlife and jaw-dropping scenery. On this exploratory voyage you can enjoy wandering albatross colonies while also seeing some of the biggest breeding spots for king penguins and elephant seals...
m/v Plancius
Cruise date:
9 Nov - 23 Nov, 2023
Price:
10500 USD
Weddell Sea - In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters
Searching for the Elusive Emperor Penguins
OTL22-23 A true expedition, our Weddell Sea cruise sets out to explore the range of the Emperor Penguins near Snow Hill Island. We will visit the area via helicopter and see a variety of other birds and penguins including Adélies and Gentoos.
m/v Ortelius
Cruise date:
10 Nov - 20 Nov, 2023
Price:
12100 USD
Antarctica - Basecamp
The best activity voyage in Antarctica
HDS22-23 The Antarctic Peninsula Basecamp cruise offers you a myriad of ways to explore and enjoy the Antarctic Region. This expedition allows you to hike, snowshoe, kayak, go mountaineering, and even camp out under the Southern Polar skies.
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
13 Nov - 25 Nov, 2023
Price:
9100 USD
Weddell Sea - In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters
Searching for the Elusive Emperor Penguins
OTL23-23 A true expedition, our Weddell Sea cruise sets out to explore the range of the Emperor Penguins near Snow Hill Island. We will visit the area via helicopter and see a variety of other birds and penguins including Adélies and Gentoos.
m/v Ortelius
Cruise date:
20 Nov - 30 Nov, 2023
Price:
12100 USD
Antarctica cruise video
Antarctica photo
Antarctica story
Crossing, Kayaking, Camping: Three Antarctic Adventures
Crossing the Drake Passage rewards thousands of tourists every year with one of the most incredible paradises on planet
Antarctica blog
Antarctic Endurance: Ultramarathon in Earth’s Largest Desert
Sixty ultramarathoners will join us in Antarctica during the 2024-25 season.
Antarctica experiences
See the highlights you may experience:
Antarctica wildlife
See the highlights you may experience:
Map of
Antarctica cruise reviews

Amazing Antarctica
I cannot fault the professionalism of the Plancius crew - the ship was terrific, the service five star, the staff were welcoming, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable - no question went unanswered and nothing wa
Atlantic Odessey
Friendly & knowledgable staff. Interesting talks particularly from the US Army Commander of Ascension during the Falklands conflict and the UK Manager from Cable & Wireless in the 1960s. I would have liked to s
Read full review »pretour Antarctica
Het was een bijzondere ervaring en een prachtige reis met heel veel mooie herinneringen en waarnemingen. Een aanrader voor iedereen die houdt van onhergbergzame landschappen en gebieden met unieke soorten.
Read full review »The prettiest place on Earth
Antarctica is the most gorgeous and pristine place I’ve ever seen. Taking the voyage on the Plancius, with the expert staff and warm crew, made the trip all the more memorable. I would absolutely recommend this
Read full review »Antarctica FAQ
Where is Antarctica?
Antarctica is the fifth largest of the seven continents. Antarctica has two large indentations which are the Ross Sea and the Weddell Sea. The nearest continent is South America. The total surface of Antarctica is 14.2 Million square kilometres (abou
Read more »What is the time zone in Antarctica?
The time zone in Antarctica is the same as the time zone in New Zealand: GMT + 12 hours. On regular Antarctic trips we operate in the same time zone as Ushuaia, Argentina: GMT – 3 hours.
Read more »Is it dangerous to visit Antarctica?
No, the remote location, frozen landscape, and unpredictable weather can make tourism operations in Antarctica tricky, but Oceanwide Expeditions has the right experience, knowledge, and expertise to stay safe in the Antarctic.
Read more »What is the climate at Antarctica?
Antarctica is the coldest and also the windiest continent in the world. The lowest temperature on Earth was recorded in Antarctica. There are three climatic regions in Antarctica: The interior of the continent: This is the extremely cold area of A
Read more »What is the Antarctic landscape like?
Antarctica consists of two main areas. East Antarctica (Greater Antarctica) and West Antarctica (Antarctic Peninsula). More than 98% of Antarctica is covered with ice. The land is covered with ice and snow. Antarctica’s two parts are separated
Read more »What kinds of plants and animals are there in Antarctica?
The vegetation at Antarctica is limited to around 350 species of mostly lichens, mosses, and algae. Various sea birds, seals, and penguins are often seen in Antarctica such as the Emperor Penguin, Adelie Penguin, Orcas, Humpback whales, Weddell Seals
Read more »About
Antarctic Weather
Witness some of Earth’s most beautiful scenery in one of Earth’s least hospitable environments. Antarctica is the coldest, highest, windiest, and driest of all Earth’s continents, though it grants our cruise passengers access to many of the most dazzling sights our planet has to offer. Gray rock peaks punch out of the wind-carved snow, passing icebergs dot the dark blue waters, and wildlife abounds that can be seen nowhere else – all serving to remind us that we are truly in another world.
Along the Antarctic coasts (where we travel on our cruises) temperatures can reach as high as 10°C (50°F) during a hot summer day, and on a regular day can plummet to barely above freezing. But just because you’re in the coldest spot on Earth doesn’t mean you have to be uncomfortable: Our vessels are consummately designed to make your voyage as pleasant as possible. And if you’re still unsure what clothing to pack, we’ll give you all the information you need to stay warm and dry before you join us on our exploration of the Antarctic.
Facts About Antarctica
- Antarctica is larger than Europe
- Because Antarctica experiences so little precipitation, it is technically a desert
- The name “Antarctica” comes from a Greek phrase meaning “opposite to north”
- Almost 62% of the freshwater ice on Earth exists in Antarctica. If all that ice melted today, the world’s oceans would swell by about 60 meters (197 feet)
- The coldest temperature ever recorded was at the Antarctic research station Vostok, on July 21, 1983, when the thermometer dropped to a teeth-chattering -89.2°C (-128.6°F), cold enough to shatter steel
- Despite the cold, the biggest documented mass of living creatures — a 10,000,000-ton school of krill — was spotted in the Antarctic
- The first confirmed sighting of Antarctica was in 1820, though it would take almost a century — until 1911, to be exact — before a human being set foot on the continent
Travel to Antarctica
An Antarctic cruise means visiting a part of Earth that has remained largely unchanged since Aristotle first gave rise to the notion of Terra Australis, or the ”Land of the South”.
Taking one of our cruises also means acquainting yourself with the real survivalists of the Antarctic: the seals, whales, and so many penguins who call the region home.
Our Antarctica cruises offer you an experience unlike any you’ve had. Take a Zodiac cruise among the towering blue-white icebergs, kayak alongside curious whales, introduce yourself to the inquisitive penguins, dive into a new world under the sea, camp beneath the polar sky, or climb to a rugged vista for a bird’s-eye view of the landscape. To see a list of all your many options, check out our dedicated Antarctica cruise page.